FEMA Updates Flood Maps in Elko County, including Elko, Carlin and Wells

Release Date Release Number
R9-NR-21-36
Release Date:
December 17, 2021

OAKLAND, Calif. — The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has delivered preliminary flood maps for parts of Elko County. The maps identify revised flood hazards along the Humboldt River; East Adobe, Charlie and Harper Creeks; and the Woodland Drain and its tributaries. These new maps will help building officials, contractors and homeowners make effective mitigation decisions, thereby contributing to safer and more disaster resilient communities.

Before the new Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) become effective, there is a 90-day appeal period from Dec. 22 to Mar. 21, 2022. During that time, residents or businesses with supporting technical and scientific information, such as detailed hydraulic or hydrologic data, can appeal the flood risk information on the preliminary maps, which can be viewed at fema.gov/preliminaryfloodhazarddata.

Flood hazards are dynamic and change frequently for many reasons, including weather patterns, erosion and community development. Officials from FEMA, Elko County and the cities of Elko, Carlin and Wells worked together to provide updated information that accurately reflects the flood risk. These changes may also affect future building standards or insurance requirements.

The local mapping project is part of a national effort led by FEMA to increase local knowledge of flood risks and support actions to address and reduce the effects of flooding on new and improved structures. FEMA encourages residents to review the preliminary flood maps to learn about local flood risks, potential future flood insurance requirements and identify any concerns or questions about the information provided.

Risk of flooding affects almost every corner of the nation. In total, 98% of counties have experienced a flood event, which makes floods the most common and widespread of all weather-related natural disasters.

For more information, contact Elko County at (775) 738-6816 or pfitzgerald@elkocountynv.net. Other community information is available for the cities of Elko at (775) 777-7214 or bthibault@elkocitynv.gov, Carlin at (775) 754-6515 or permits@carlin.com, and Wells at (775) 752-3355) or citymanager@cityofwells.com.

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FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during, and after disasters. Follow FEMA Region 9 online at twitter.com/femaregion9.

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